MARTA eyeing higher fares, service cuts - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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The panel voted to raise basic fares by 25 from $1.75 to $2, effective with the starft of the new fiscal year on July 1. Parkinyg fees at nine lots also would goup $1. On the servicde side, MARTA trains would stop running at while non-productive bus routes would be eliminated. MART A officials have warned for months that higher fares and service reductions would be neede d to fill a projected 2010budget shortfall, even with $25 millioh in economic stimulus funding the voted this week to providee MARTA. The federal allocation, approveed by the ARC board on will help MARTA offset slumping sales tax revenues resultingt fromthe recession.
“While we’re tremendously thankful to ekethrough 2010, one-time measureas aren’t real long-term funding solutions,” said Beverlgy Scott, MARTA’s general manager and CEO. MARTA will hold publiv hearings on the recommender fare increases and service cuts on June 16and 17. The agency’s full board of directors is expected to vote on the changess onJune 22.